We’ve finally found the ultimate way to reheat pizza and that’s in the air fryer! Stop trying to revive day-old pizza in the microwave and learn how to reheat pizza in the air fryer.
» You might also like these Cajun Chicken Wings and then How to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer.
If you have an air fryer, there’s no need to use any other method again for reheating day old pizza. The air fryer not only crisps the bottom crust, but perfectly reinvigorates the toppings as it heats the slice through. When it comes out, it’s just as good as it was the first day.
Reheating pizza in an air fryer ensures crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese. Begin by preheating the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for a couple of minutes. Arrange the pizza slices evenly in the air fryer basket, ensuring they lay flat and don’t overlap. Set the timer to 3 minutes. After the first minute, check to see if the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted. You might need an additional 30 seconds to 2 minutes to get it perfect.
We love to make homemade pizza like this Buffalo Chicken Pizza. No more soggy leftover pizza!
Why Use the Air Fryer?
In case you’re wondering, we’ve tried all the methods of reheating pizza – from the oven to the microwave to a pan on the stovetop. The oven works fine, but it takes forever to preheat and seems like overkill for reheating just a few slices.
The microwave is fast, but it leaves the crust soggy. A pan on the stovetop gets a nice crispy crust, but the toppings don’t get sizzley – the way we like it.
That’s why that best way is to use the air fryer. The circulating air combined with the small space in the basket allow you to perfectly reheat a couple of slices of pizza very quickly, and it crisps the crust at the same time as it’s heating up the toppings.
How to Reheat Pizza in the Air Fryer
The process is super simple. There’s no need for preheating. There’s no need to put anything down in the air fryer basket, like tin foil or parchment paper. The food isn’t in the fryer long enough to stick.
Place two slices of pizza in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap. Cook on 350° F for 3-4 minutes. I find that 3 minutes is perfect for a thin crust, and 4 minutes is perfect for a thicker crust.
Thicker pizza may need slightly longer, while thinner pizza may need slightly less time. Check at the 3 minute mark to gauge if it’s done or not.
As soon as it’s bubbly and sizzling on top, it’s ready to take out. If you leave it for too long, it might become dry and a little burned, so after 3 minutes do keep a good eye on it.
How to Reheat Frozen Pizza
Reheating frozen pizza in the air fryer is quick and easy.
Preheat your air fryer to 350° F.
Place your leftover frozen pizza in the air fryer basket. Try not to stack slices on top of each other. There needs to be room for the air to circulate. Depending on the size of the pizza and the air fryer, you may need to cut the pizza into smaller slices or pieces so that it fits in the basket.
Cook the pizza for 5-8 minutes, checking it frequently to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, you can remove the pizza from the air fryer.
Do I Need to Use Oil?
It’s not necessary to use any oil when reheating pizza slices in the air fryer. As is typical with pizza, it has enough of its own grease to keep the toppings from getting dry. The grease in the crust will help it crisp up again without oil.
If your basket has lost its non-stick and things tend to stick on it, you can spray the basket before adding the slices to prevent sticking.
Should I Preheat the Air Fryer?
I never preheat my air fryer. Some models do require it, but most do not. The best benefit of the air fryer is not needing to preheat it. Just put your food in and cook per the time in the recipe.
Ninja® Foodi®XL 2-Basket Air Fryer
- 2 independent XL air fryer baskets
- Integrated Foodi® Smart Thermometer
- Cook 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time
Tips for Reheating Leftover Pizza in the Air Fryer
- If you have a basket air fryer, you will only be able to fit in about 2 slices of pizza at a time, depending on the size of your air fryer. Don’t try to stack them or the cheese will stick them together.
- You might want to use a parchment paper round in the bottom of the basket to prevent sticking and burning of cheese, though I’ve found this isn’t really necessary. The crust gets crispier without anything in the bottom of the pan.
- If you have a larger oven-style air fryer, you can re-heat as many slices as you want, as long as they fit on the tray without touching.
- Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model, so always check your food for doneness and adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Don’t try to pick the pizza out of the hot basket with your hands. Always use tongs to get the pizza out so you don’t burn yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pizza better reheated in the oven or the air fryer?
In our opinion, the air fryer is the way to go. It is way faster, your pizza will be reheated and ready to eat before your oven is even warm. Also, the air fryer makes your leftover pizza crisp and steamy just like fresh baked pizza.
How long should you reheat pizza in an air fryer?
Start out with 3-4 minutes and then check your pizza. If it’s not ready at that point add a minute or two and then check it again. Keep in mind that thick crust pizza may take long and every air fryer cooks differently.
How do you reheat pizza in an air fryer to make it crispy?
You don’t have to do anything special to pizza to make it crispy in the air fryer. The circulating air from the fans will reheat the oil on the crust of the pizza and make it nice and crispy.
Should I use aluminum foil or parchment paper under the pizza?
I do not recommend putting anything under the pizza in the air fryer when reheating it. Both foil and parchment paper will prevent the crust from getting crispy because the air cannot circulate as freely around it.
Before You Go
Since you made it to the end of this article, you’re probably pretty interested in the air fryer. Here are a few more articles we think you might enjoy.
- How to Easily Reheat Steak in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Pizza
- Air Fryer Steak Bites & Potatoes
- Air Fryer Frozen French Bread Pizza
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Reheated Pizza in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices refrigerated leftover pizza
Instructions
- Place two slices of pizza in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap. Cook on 350° F for 3-4 minutes. Thicker pizza may need slightly longer, while thinner pizza may need slightly less time. Check at the 3 minute mark to gauge if it’s done or not.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
What Oil & Oil Sprayer is Best for the Air Fryer?
The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so it’s very important.
My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has no harmful aerosols or chemicals.
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Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
Nice and easy, and moist enough, but not hot enough
This is a very informative article with complete detail. Thank you. I will share it with my friends.
I have always hated reheated pizza but this actually sounds like it may work! If and when I finally get an air fryer. I would certainly attempt it after reading this post.
To “Re-Heat the pizza” post is useful for all those who like to eat pizza, now they can reheat it and eat it likely they are looked at as fresh.
Out of all the different ways I’ve tried to reheat pizza, this is one of them!
The pizza tasted just as good as it did when it was fresh out of the oven.
Does it matter if the pizza was originally cooked in a wood-fired oven versus a regular oven?
It shouldn’t make a difference at all.
I’ve never used an air fryer before – do I need to preheat it before putting the pizza in?
It’s not necessary to preheat your air fryer. Just add the pizza slices to the basket and cook.
This is now my go-to method for reheating pizza.
I’m a little hesitant to try this because I don’t want the cheese to melt all over the place – does it make a mess?
It really doesn’t make too much of a mess. If you are concerned you could try the parchment paper or silicon basket liners. They definitely make air fryer clean up quick and easy.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I’ve tried reheating pizza in the microwave before and it always turned out soggy. This air fryer made the crust crispy again.
Jessica, it is our favorite way to eat leftover pizza for that reason!
I love my air fryer and I love pizza, so I was excited to try this recipe. It did not disappoint!
I just got an air fryer and was looking for new ways to use it. I never would have thought to use it to reheat pizza. I’m definitely going to try this with other leftovers.
The air fryer has become out go-to for just about everything.
I like pizza, so I was excited to try this recipe